Reversible window



Oct 9, 1928 1,687,116

A. A. WARD REVERS IBLE WINDOW Filed April 21, 1928 INVENTOR Andre wA .T l ard & ATTORN EY Patented Oct. 9, 1928.

UNITED STATES ANDREW A. WARD, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

REVERSIBLE \VINDOW.

Application filed April 21,

This invention relates to sash window con struction, and particularly to that type of window commonly known as a double hung window. My main purpose is to arrange the individual windows so that either one may be drawn inwardly of the casing and reversed, thereby making it possible to conveniently clean the window panes from the inside of the building. This eliminates the cleaner assuming the awkward and dangerous position necessary when cleaning the outsides of the ordinary windows of this type, and also avoids the necessity of removing the window screens if these are hung on the outside as is frequently the case.

In previous window construction having the above feature, such as for instance that shown in my copending application for patent, Serial No. 162,485, filed January 21, 1927, the sash cords were attached to the window frames centrally of their height, so that the windows would be maintained in proper balance when inverted as well as when in their normal positions. I found from experience, however, that when attempting to mount these reversible windows in old casings, or ones al.- ready installed for ordinary windows, the sash cords were usually in long enough to enable them to extend down to the center of the window frames, since these cords as usual are connected to the ordinary windows near the top. It was therefore necessary to install new cords which consumed considerable time, and the expense of which made the new in stallation unprofitable.

The principal object of my present inven tion, therefore, is to construct the reversible windows so that the cords will normally support the windows from near the top, while at the same time when the windows are reversed the point of support of the cords with the window is shifted toward the opposite end. In this manner the window is maintained. in proper balance when in its normal or reversed positions, while at the same time the original. cords may be used.

A further object of the invention is to construct the cord mounting structure so that it may be put out as an attachment which may be easily mounted on an old window in order to make such window reversible.

While the accompanying drawings and de scription mainly show and describe the structure in connection with old windows, this is because the construction and arrangement necessary for this purpose is more complex 1928. Serial No. 271,823.

than for new windows. I It is to be understood, however, that the use of the invention for old windows is actually a secondary object.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects I tlCCOHJPllSll by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the. drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

Fig. l is a perspective view of my improved rcrersib window construction. as applied to an old window, the casing being removed along one side.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the cord mounting attachment.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of the same.

Fig. at is a fragmentary perspective view of a window as m anufactured with my improved cord attachment feature as an integral part thereof.

Fig. 5 is a cross section of a complete sash window structure showing the position occupied by the inner window when the outer window is being drawn inwardly of the *asmg.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, and particularly present to 18, t .e window casing 1 is of standard form, except that the lower portion 2 of the inner stops is made removable and is held in place by linger screws 23; while the corresponding portions of the intermediate guide stops l are also made ren'iovable- The two transversely spaced window frames 5 are mounted as usual. in sliding relation to each other and to the stops.

My cord mounting attachment comprises for each window a pair of hollow rectangular metal members 6 the same width as the win dow frame, which are secured by nails '7 or the like to the frame, which is planed down to the necessary extent so that the width of the frame when the metal members are attached is the same as its original width. The members 6 have centrally disposed. slots 8 extending from top to bottom thereof down their outer side edges of sufficient width to freely receive the sash cords 9 therethrough.

The window end of each cord is secured in any suitable mannerto a metal head 10 which is freely movable in the corresponding member 6 but incapable of passing through the slot. To prevent the head from sliding out of the ends of the member 6 after it is once placed in said member, stop blocks 11 of predetermined length are inserted and secured in the member 6 at the top and bottom, the upper block at least being grooved as at 12 in alinement with the slot 8 so as to allow the cord to be maintained inwardly of theouter side edge of the member 6. The stop block is of course suhiciently substantial and is secured with sufficient rigidity to support the weight of the window when the latter is suspended from the cords.

It will therefore be seen that by means of this arrangement, the cords need not normally project down from the top of the window to any greater extent than is ordinarily the case. At the same time the heads 10 being freely movable between the stop blocks enable the window to be reversed in position and then supported by the cord heads hearing against the normally lower stop blocks. The points of engagement or support of the cord heads being adjacent the top or bottom of the window when the latter is in either its normal or inverted positions, the lat er will not tend to shift or upset of itself from either position to which it may be moved, and will retain such position until it is intentionally desired to reverse it in one direction or the other. In order to prevent the leakage of water between the abutting edges of the window frame and the metal members 6, the latter are preferably formed along the outer sides with flanges 13, which overlap the ad jacent faces of the Window frame, so as to break the straight-line joint otherwise had.

The above structure is for use when using an old window and its casing. For new construction the head retaining passages 6 and the edge slots 8 are made directly in the window frame 5 as shown in Fig. t, these passages being drilled or otherwise formed from the top to a point short of the bottom of the window; the upper end of the passages which are preferably circular being then sealed by blocks 11 of suitable length driven into place and rigidly secured.

In either case the operation is of course the same. When it is desired to reverse the outer window, the removable stop potions 2 and f are removed, the inner Window is lowered and drawn inwardly and then raised on the inside of the window casing to a point above its normal position as shown in Fig. 5 and temporarily held in that position. The outer window is then lowered and drawn inwardly as shown, the other window on account of the position that it then occupies as above described not offering any interference with the inward movement and reversing of the outer window as will be evident.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention, as set forth herein.

lVhile this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the ap iended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a reversible sash window, enclosed passages down the side members of the win dow frame, slots of restricted widtl'i leading from said passages to the adiuce side edges of the frame and tern'iinatiug short of the top and bottom thereof, sash cords passable through the slots, and enlarg d hcadi-a on the. adjacent ends the cords movable along the passages but incapable of passing through. the slots.

2. In a reversible sash window, members shaped to form continuous vertical pasagi cs adapter. to be connected to the window l' along t ne side edges thereof. said members hav ng slots in their outer faces communi cat 9; with the passages, sash cords passable through the slots, herds on the cords disposed in the passages for movmnent there along but incapable of passing through the slots, and stop blocks secured in the end of the passages to limit the movement of the heads.

3. In a reversible sash window, members shaped to form continuous vertical passages adapted to be connected to the window "mine along the side dges thereof said members having slots in their outer es connuunieating with the passages sash cords paw ble through the slots, lien. on the cords disposed in the passages for nioi'cment therealong but incapable of passing through the slots, and means mounted in said n'ieinbers to limit the movement of the heads toward both ends of the members.

4:. In a reversible sash window construction, a window frame, sash cord: for supporting the frame, and means for altuchiu the cords to the frame in a. manner So cause the points of support of the cords with. the frame to be above the horizontal center of the frame both when said frame is in its normal position andv is inve ted.

5. In a reversible sash window construction, a window frame, sash. cords for supporting the frame, heads on the fr me ends of the cords, and means for mounting said heads on the frame in a man er to permit of a predetermined amount of movement of the heads both above and below the horizontal center of the frame.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ANDREI? A. ti l Hill).

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